Although there is an expectation of inventory reduction in domestic styrene supply in the first half of February, the overall supply remains relatively abundant. The main downstream demand is expected to increase temporarily after the Spring Festival, but the spot demand may still be weak.
Toluene and xylene, these two colorless and aromatic liquids, are actually not unfamiliar in our daily lives. Due to their volatile and flammable properties, they…
After the holiday, Shandong refineries, free from inventory pressure due to pre-holiday stock clearance and with some units temporarily shut down, saw a rise in toluene and xylene prices as they replenished stocks post-holiday.
During the Spring Festival in 2025, the domestic acetone market operated stably with a basically balanced supply and demand relationship, and prices fluctuated slightly. Impacted by the shutdown during the Spring Festival holidays and slowed logistics, the market trading atmosphere was relatively subdued. However, sufficient pre-holiday stockpiling prevented any noticeable supply shortages.
The recent probability of crude oil exhibiting a relatively strong performance is high, which continues to provide a certain degree of support for styrene. The broad balance in supply and demand at the benzene end has improved, but its impact on styrene is not significant, and it is likely to mainly follow the trend of styrene.
Currently, mainstream factories of ethyl acetate have low inventory levels, and their inventory depletion plans during the Lunar New Year holiday period are basically in place. The main bidding factories have relatively low volumes for distant future delivery, significantly affected by transportation issues.
This week, domestic pure benzene supply remained relatively stable; however, a decrease in incoming ships coupled with a significant increase in downstream demand due to concentrated pre-holiday stockpiling led to a substantial surge in pure benzene transaction prices, fueled by crude oil prices.
Impacted by external sanctions news and concentrated pre-holiday stockpiling of oil products, toluene and xylenes prices at Shandong refineries have experienced consecutive and substantial increases of nearly RMB 1,000 per tonne.
Last week, the market entered the pre-New Year stockpiling period, experiencing a trend of falling first and then rising. Coupled with the strengthening of crude oil prices, the price difference between raw materials and styrene narrowed.
With Zhejiang Petrochemical starting to deliver and imported resources arriving at the port, the inventory in East China has risen. The market has slightly declined as downstream buyers are cautious in taking delivery. However, given the support of raw material benzene and the expanding losses of the phenol-acetone plants, the decline in acetone prices is expected to be limited.
Last week, downstream buyers of ethyl acetate products were quite active in stocking up. Due to inventory pressure, manufacturers did not raise the ex-factory prices.
This week, domestic production capacity increased slightly as the market entered the pre-holiday stockpiling period. Port inventories declined but remained high overall. Due to sluggish overseas demand, incoming shipments will be relatively concentrated in the coming period, and the market remains bearish in the long term.
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